Inpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program in a Long-Term Care Facility: Short-Term Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction.

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate short-term outcomes of inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (IPR) programs for older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). IPR comprises medical management, exercise, nutrition counseling, and coping skills education programs, among other interventions. The current study used a pretest-posttest design with 21 participants evenly split by gender between the ages of 46 and 95.

The patient-centered medical home.

The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a comprehensive model of care that has the potential for improving primary health care for older adults. Nurse practitioners (NPs) have the potential to make a significant impact in PCMHs and to positively affect patient care outcomes. In particular, NPs with practice doctorates have the leadership skills to effectively lead PCMHs.

Social interactions and depressive symptoms among community dwelling older adults in Nepal: a synergic effect model.

In Asian families, where patriarchal family systems are common, living arrangements of older adults are characterized by residing with a married son. This study examines the synergic effects of intergenerational solidarity (emotional and instrumental support exchange and anticipated support) on depression of older adults from a developing country, Nepal. Gender differences are also explored in the study.

Translating evidence from systematic reviews for policy makers.

Gerontological nurses who have received education and have experience in conducting systematic reviews may assume a key role in interpreting systematic reviews for policy makers. Systematic reviews offer evidence to determine the best policy and program solutions to a problem. To be successful in translating evidence from systematic reviews, gerontological nurses need to (a) understand the steps of the policy making process and where different kinds of reviews may be used, (b) assess the "technical" literacy and level of interest in gerontological issues of the intended policy maker, and (c) develop and practice skills in policy writing that distill information in policy briefs as well as shorter formats.

Caring for an aging population: review of policy initiatives.

Due to the aging population in the United States, there will be a need for a larger workforce that is prepared to provide care to an older adult population. The Institute of Medicine has noted challenges related to the preparation of a geriatric workforce due to lack of faculty, inconsistent curricula, and few training opportunities, and has made recommendations to increase the geriatric workforce. In this article, several policy initiatives are discussed that address the shortage of health professionals prepared to care for older adults.

The systematic review of the literature: a tool for evidence-based policy.

The systematic review of the literature is a valuable tool for gerontological nurses to influence policy decisions. There are several organizations that provide helpful guidelines for the conduct of systematic reviews of the literature, including the Cochrane Collaboration, the Joanna Briggs Institute, and the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information Co-Ordinating Centre at the Institute of Education, University of London. Gerontological nurses who have a strong foundation in research methodology and the skills to synthesize scientific evidence for the purpose of promoting evidence-based policy have the potential to positively influence health care outcomes for older adults.

Long-term care insurance in Japan: implications for U.S. long-term care policy.

The purpose of this article is to review the long-term care insurance program in Japan and the present system of payment of long-term care services in the United States. The long-term care insurance system in Japan was implemented in 2001 for the purpose of promoting independence in older adults with functional disability. It reimburses for both home and institutional care.

Consumption of one egg per day increases serum lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in older adults without altering serum lipid and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations.

Lutein and zeaxanthin accumulate in the macular pigment of the retina, and are reported to be associated with a reduced incidence of age-related macular degeneration. A rich source of lutein and zeaxanthin in the American diet is the yolk of chicken eggs. Thus, the objective of the study was to investigate the effect of consuming 1 egg/d for 5 wk on the serum concentrations of lutein, zeaxanthin, lipids, and lipoprotein cholesterol in individuals >60 y of age.

Methodological issues in male caregiver research: an integrative review of the literature.

Unlabelled: PURPOSE OF THE PAPER: The purpose of this integrative review of the literature is to identify sampling and analysis issues related to gender in caregiver research in the nursing and health literature.

Background: Men provide approximately 28% of the care in the home to functionally impaired elders in the United States of America (USA), and because of demographic predictions are expected to provide more in the future. Social science research related to male caregivers has been criticized as having many limitations.

Cardiovascular health and physical activity in older adults: an integrative review of research methodology and results.

Unlabelled: PURPOSE OF THE PAPER: The purpose of this article is to review the literature on physical activity and its relationship to cardiovascular risk factors and mortality in older adults, in an effort to clarify the specific benefits and optimal level of physical activity for cardiovascular health in the older adult population.

Background/rationale: Despite physical activity being recognized as an important factor in the quality of life of older adults, there is a lack of clarity about the optimal level of physical activity that results in positive cardiovascular health benefits.

Design/methods: An integrative review of the literature using the MEDLINE and CINAHL databases from 1990 through August 2000 was conducted identifying articles related to physical activity and cardiac risk factors, cardiovascular health, or mortality in the older adult.